Tuesday, 9 June 2015

Each year, for the last three years, I have painted for the Lethbridge 10,000 exhibition, and each year on the day the finalists are announced, I wait with a knot in my stomach for the email announcement. The selected artworks are posted on the Gallery website which is made available initially to the entrants only. The website shows photographs of all the accepted work. You have to scroll down the page to see if the photo of your work is there.As you scroll you wonder - will I make it this year? Self-doubt rears its anxious head. "Oh dear, you think - everyone's work looks so good - I don't stand a chance!"Then there's relief and delight when you see your painting! This year I submitted a second entry as well so I continued to scroll. It's an ink drawing called Paperbark. As I continued to scroll, there it was, amongst the online entries - wonderful!

Pond Reflections will be exhibited in the Lethbridge 10,000 and
it's the third year that I have had a painting accepted. I'm so grateful for
this opportunity.

This painting is
part of an ongoing exploration of water, ponds, pebbles, plants, light and reflections. Preparation
for this painting included doing sketches en plein air and also taking a number
of photographs. The reflections of the plants on the water create
wonderful sinuous patterns, contrasting with the darker shadows over the river
boulders. Previous
paintings in this series include Windarra Reflections, Deep Ripple, Reeds Rise from Water and Still, which featured reeds, grasses and water lily pads.

Click on each title to access the paintings and read about their creation.

Paperbark has its origin in my regular morning walk in the park across the road. As I walk, I look at the trees and marvel at the bark which is ever-changing. The layers and details of this tree hold my attention every day.